BXBX NOVEL Chapter 137: A Long-Time Return to the Royal Capital
Chapter 137: A Long-Time Return to the Royal Capital
Thanks to the restored Genos Breaker, Luganda’s development has progressed quickly.
With the claw that was its standard equipment, it can mow the forest as much as we want.
Isn’t it amazing that it can mow cypress trees just like a lawnmower?
It can even dig up stumps after logging.
Thanks to this, the residence areas and farmlands are spreading out in the blink of an eye.
Moreover, it has semi-autonomous circuits, so if it is given a certain amount of commands, it will do its job automatically.
[Yuusuke-san, please let me pilot it too!]
Merle begged, looking up at me.
It seems that she’s sorely tempted to operate it.
However, I can’t do it.
[I’m sorry, but that’s something not possible. I’m the only one who can operate the Genos Breaker, and I’ve had Mani-san set it up so that it only listens to my commands.]
Plainly speaking, the Zord is a dangerous item.
If just about anyone could use it, it would be extremely dangerous.
[You also shouldn’t try slipping out of my sight and try operating it. You’ll end up like that drifter the other day.]
There was a drifter who tried to steal Genos a few days ago as well.
The only thing they didn’t know is that it has biometrics security, so no one but me can activate it.
Moreover, if one tries to tamper with it, an electric current will flow to the control stick and the seat.
After being discharged, he was punished to hell by Michelle and Titti.
Even though he was a bandit, the way he turned out makes me kinda feel a bit sorry for him……
Because he was publicly punished, no one messed with the Genos after that.
I rode the Genos like I was operating heavy machinery every day and worked on land development, river dike construction, and road maintenance.
As the land and roads were being cleared, I decided to recruit more people who wanted to move to my territory.
Recently, I have been working with peddler Joshua-san to offer an “Immigrant Experience Tour”.
The plan is for second sons of farmers and artisans who are nearing the end of their apprenticeships to be invited under special recommendations.
We really need people who have trade skills to make the village run smoothly.
The purpose of this program is to let people see the land they will be given and the way of life in Luganda, and it’s quite popular.
However, most people prefer to live in the city, so the number of migrants is still small.
[Even though I would have given them land, a house and every kind of Mobile Force if they migrated right now……]
As I let out a sigh, Mani-san consoled me.
[How about giving them a new model?]
[A new model?]
[Next gen Mobile Force. Like Zeta Gungalf or Gap Moeran……]
[Hohou……]
[Asshi-kun or Shirosai, there’s also Hakushiki.]
[Those sound like fun, but that may not be enough to get them to migrate……]
[You think so?]
Mani-san tilted his head in wonder.
[A lot of people like the city. Perhaps because there are a lot of job opportunities and the wages are high.]
When I said this, Mani-san clapped his hands.
[What, so they’re worrying about something like that huh.]
[Well, I’m not that desperate to recruit them anyway.]
Even in our current state, we can still get by.
I do feel like it’s okay if I just take it easy about this matter.
Well, that’s what I was thinking, but Mani-san nodded his head and started pulling my hand.
[Yahagi, we’re going to the dungeon.]
[What are we going to do in the dungeon?]
[We’re going to activate the Teleportation Portal.]
[Huh?]
I feel like I just heard something crazy there.
[All dungeons are connected to each other by a Teleportation Portal. I will connect Luganda’s dungeon to the dungeon near that big city you’d like. If everyone can easily enjoy the city, the problem will be solved, won’t it?]
No, rather than solve a problem, I feel like that will open up more problems.
Though I say that, I am interested in the Teleportation Portal.
I suppose I’ll confirm if it really exists.
[For the time being, can I see what it looks like?]
[Aye aye.]
Mani-san strode out with unsteady steps like usual.
I guess you could say I’m being guided by God?
I’m not sure how it would turn out, but I decided to just follow Mani-san.
When we arrived at the dungeon, I reconfirmed things with Mani-san.
[The Teleportation Portal is on the 2nd Underground Floor, right?]
[That’s right. Near the room with the cranky girl.]
The cranky girl he was talking about should be Titti.
In other words, the portal is hidden near the first-aid station.
In that case, I should have no problem getting there myself.
Powerful monsters rarely appear, and as long as I’m prepared, I can get there on my own.
We rode the dungeon elevator to the 2nd Underground Floor.
[This way.]
Mani-san strode unsteadily down the stairs.
I was worried that his memory might fade like usual, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Eventually, we arrived at a dead end.
[Here we are.]
In a small pit surrounded by stone walls on three sides, there was something like a slightly larger shogi board placed.
It was made of stone and was barely big enough for one person to sit on.
Similar to a shogi board, the surface of the stone was marked with grid lines.
[Yahagi wants to go to Lursanjon, right?]
[Yes, yes, the Royal Capital.]
[Lursanjon is the Royal Capital? That place is just a frontier village though.]
Mani-san talked about something from a long time ago.
[That isn’t the case. Luganda is now the frontier rural area and Lursanjon is a big city.]
[Fuo…… Times sure have changed. Well, whatever. Keep your gaze to the movements of my finger.]
Mani-san moved his finger in a steady pattern along the dots and lines marked on the board.
It’s like he’s entering a passcode to unlock a smartphone.
[Does the way you move your finger change the destination?]
[That’s right.]
I wouldn’t be able to remember every single code there is, so what I just want to know is how to get to the Royal Capital.
As Mani-san finished moving his finger, the portal began to glow bluish-white.
[If you get on the portal while it’s still glowing, you will be teleported. You can come back the same way.]
[Hmmm. This leads to the dungeon over there, right?]
[Umu, it’s on the same Underground Floor.]
The 2nd Underground Floor is where Yahagi Onsen used to be.
Since I made a map of the area, I know the geography well.
I’ll have to check the location of the portal on the 2nd Underground Floor over there.
[Can I use the Teleportation Portal now?]
[Yeah, you can do whatever you want. I’ll go back and have some tea.]
Just to make sure, I tried activating the portal with my finger.
Good, good, it’s working.
There was a moment of hesitation, but I placed my foot on the portal glowing bluish-white, and transcended time and space.
I felt no impact on my body.
The teleportation was instantaneous, and I just found myself standing in Royal Capital’s dungeon.
This place looked familiar.
Ah, right, this area should be very close to Yahagi Onsen.
I had no idea there was a teleportation portal so close to where I was doing business.
Getting off the portal I was on, I took a closer inspection around the area.
Come to think of it, I had seen this place before when I was making a map.
I never thought that this little platform was a portal though.
Even so, it had been a long time since I had been to the Royal Capital’s dungeon.
It’s less than a hundred meters from here to the onsen.
Guess I’ll go for a short walk.
The scent of onsen water filled the air as I stepped through the nostalgic door.
Yes, yes, this place is like this.
I used to take a bath here……
[Arehh, if it isn’t Yahagi-san!? Long time no see.]
As I looked around, feeling nostalgic, familiar-looking adventurers started calling out to me.
[You’ve come back to the Royal Capital huh. Are you going to do business here again?]
[No, I just stopped by the onsen today……]
As I stammered my response, loud, clamorous footsteps resounded, and an injured person was brought over.
[Move over, my buddy’s arm got shot!]
The young adventurer looked pale, his arm covered in blood.
The wound seemed to be quite pale.
[Please bring out a salve and bandages!]
First aid was hurriedly being administered, but the medicine and bandages were shoddy items.
They were still a young team of adventurers, so they probably couldn’t afford to buy all the proper gear.
[Leave it to me.]
[Eh, Yahagi-san!?]
I set up my shoulder-pole stall and brought out a new product.
Product name: Chou Himo QQ
Description: 127 cm long string gummies. Half of a string gummi is cola-flavored, while the other half is orange-flavored. It’s delicious to eat, but if one wraps it around a wound, it turns into a first-aid tape for medical use.
Price: 100 rims
[Thank you, Yahagi-san!]
I had intended to just drop in for a quick visit, but everyone begged me to open my store for the first time in a long while.
Well, it really has been a long time since I opened my shop in front of the onsen.
[Sorry, but this is the only day I’ll open up my shop here. Well, I may make occasional trips……]
When I told them my circumstances, the adventurers bought my items in bulk, and the items in my shoulder-pole stall were gone in the blink of an eye.
In particular, the Chou Himo QQ, which had been shown to be so effective right before their eyes, sold out in no time at all.
The teleportation portal sure is convenient.
I certainly could make it public, but it would be troublesome to have people using it so casually.
I guess I’ll just have to pretend I don’t know about it for a while.
Well, I’m planning to use it to wholesale magic crystals and buy supplies though.
After enjoying my time in the onsen, making sure that I wouldn’t be seen by the other adventurers, I reactivated the portal and returned to Luganda.
<Translator’s Notes>
Zeta Gungalf: Based on MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam.
- Gap Moeran: Based on ORX-005 Gaplant, I think?
- Asshi-kun: Based on NRX-044 Asshimar, I think?
- Shirosai: Based on RMS- 108 Marasai, I think?
- Hakushiki: Based on MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki.
- Shogi boards are like chess boards, but 9×9 instead of 8×8
- Chou Himo QQ: Based on Shijou Saichou Gummi: Chou Himo Q.
